Andalusia Elections: historic results by province since 1982, vote evolution and leaderships

Since the first regional elections in 1982, Andalusia has undergone a profound political evolution that has completely transformed the distribution of its 109 seats in Parliament.

For almost four decades, the Andalusian PSOE maintained an undisputed hegemony in the region, first against UCD and Alianza Popular and, later, against Javier Arenas's People's Party.

Over the years, the political map diversified with the entry of forces such as Izquierda Unida, the Partido Andalucista, and later Podemos, Ciudadanos and Vox, leading to the electoral upset of 2022, when Juanma Moreno's PP obtained the first absolute majority in its history in the community, displacing the PSOE from its historic stronghold and painting a region that has historically always worn red in blue.

Ahead of next Sunday's regional elections, Demócrata reviews the provincial seat distribution since those first elections in 1982 until 2022, to follow, election after election, the changes in the Andalusian political balance and the evolution of citizens' votes since the beginning of autonomy.

Result in seats by province in 1982

The Elections to the Parliament of Andalusia in 1982 took place on Sunday, May 23 of that year, and marked the beginning of the I Andalusian legislature in democracy.

They were the first regional elections held in a community that acceded to autonomy during the Transition through the "fast track" established in Article 151 of the Constitution.

The process was preceded by an intense territorial debate, in which left-wing forces defended the creation of a united Andalusia of eight provinces with full autonomy, against sectors of the right who favored a more limited autonomous model or even territorial division.

The election day resulted in a very broad victory for the PSOE-A under the leadership of the historic Andalusian socialist leader Rafael Escudero, who obtained an absolute majority and opened a long period of socialist hegemony in the community.

The Parliament was configured with 109 seats.

Result in seats by province in 1986

The 1986 ones were held on Sunday, June 22, coinciding with the general elections, and marked the beginning of the II Andalusian legislature. Numerous candidacies were presented in these elections, although finally only four achieved parliamentary representation, which showed a concentration of votes in the main political forces.

Participation increased to 70%, reflecting the relevance of elections simultaneous to the general ones.

The result once again gave victory to the PSOE-A, which revalidated the absolute majority with 60 seats, thus consolidating its hegemonic position in Andalusian politics during the eighties.

After the constitution of the new Parliament, José Rodríguez de la Borbolla was invested president of the Junta de Andalucía, continuing the socialist government initiated in the previous legislature.

The center-right opposition was represented by Coalición Popular, led by Antonio Hernández Mancha, which achieved significant growth and consolidated itself as the main alternative to the socialist government.

For its part, Izquierda Unida-Convocatoria por Andalucía, led by Julio Anguita, experienced a strong electoral advance, becoming a key force within the Andalusian left. Finally, the Partido Andalucista, with Luis Uruñuela at the helm, maintained a more reduced presence in Parliament, although it retained its role as an expression of political Andalusianism in the community.

Result in seats by province in 1990

The 1990 elections were held on Saturday, June 23, and marked the beginning of the III Andalusian legislature.

The political context was marked by lower participation, which stood at 55%, in a scenario of growing wear and tear of the regional political system after the first two socialist legislatures.

A total of 18 candidacies were presented, although the result once again awarded victory to the PSOE-A, led by Manuel Chaves, who revalidated the absolute majority with 62 seats.

The opposition was led by the People's Party of Gabino Puche, while Izquierda Unida maintained a presence in Parliament and the Andalucist Party achieved relevant representation in the political Andalusian sphere.

After the constitution of the Parliament, Manuel Chaves was invested president of the Junta, initiating a new stage of leadership within Andalusian socialism.

Result in seats by province in 1994

These elections were held on Sunday, June 12, coinciding with the European Parliament elections, and marked the beginning of the IV Andalusian legislature.

In these elections, 11 candidacies were presented, although only four obtained parliamentary representation, in a context of greater political competitiveness and growth of the opposition to the PSOE-A.

Participation increased to 67%, in elections marked by the end of the socialist absolute majority.

The PSOE-A, led by Manuel Chaves, won the elections but lost 17 seats and fell below the absolute majority, forcing it to govern in minority for the first time in the autonomous era.

The People's Party, led by Javier Arenas, experienced a strong rise, consolidating itself as the main alternative for government, while Izquierda Unida also grew significantly.

The Andalucist Party maintained its presence in Parliament, although with less weight.

This legislature was marked by parliamentary instability and the known "pincer movement" between PP and IU at certain times, which hindered governability and led to the early call for new elections in 1996.

Result in seats by province in 1996

The 1996 elections were held early on Sunday, March 3, to coincide with the general elections, and marked the beginning of the V Andalusian legislature.

Participation rose to 77%, one of the highest in the autonomous history after that of 1982.

The PSOE-A, led by Manuel Chaves, once again won the elections with a relative majority, although without an absolute majority, but managed to form a stable government thanks to the support of the Andalucist Party, which allowed it to achieve a parliamentary majority.

The Popular Party maintained a strong presence as the main opposition force, while Izquierda Unida reduced its representation compared to the previous elections.

This legislature marked the consolidation of Chaves' leadership, who was invested president for the third consecutive time with the support of the PA, guaranteeing governability in Andalusia.

Result in seats by province in 2000

The elections to the Parliament of 2000 were held on Sunday, March 12, coinciding again with the general elections.

Turnout stood at 68%, reflecting a certain stability compared to previous processes, and 16 candidacies were presented.

The PSOE-A, led by Manuel Chaves, once again won the elections and obtained 52 seats, which allowed him to form a government with the support of the Andalucist Party, with whom he renewed the legislature pact.

The Popular Party remained the main opposition force, while Izquierda Unida retained representation, although without decisive influence. This legislature consolidated the governance model based on agreements between the PSOE-A and the PA, allowing Chaves to be invested president for the fourth consecutive time.

Result in seats by province in 2004

The 2004 elections were held on Sunday, March 14.

Manuel Chaves' Andalusian PSOE achieved a clear victory by obtaining an absolute majority with 61 seats, which allowed him to govern alone again after two legislatures depending on parliamentary support.

The Popular Party consolidated itself as the main opposition force, while Izquierda Unida maintained its representation and the Andalucist Party retained a more reduced role in the Parliament.

This result marked the beginning of a period of political stability, in which PSOE and IU jointly promoted the reform of the Statute of Autonomy, a key process in the institutional evolution of Andalusia.

Result in seats by province in 2008

The 2008 elections were held on Sunday, March 9, and marked the beginning of the VIII Andalusian legislature.

In these elections, only three candidacies achieved parliamentary representation, in a context marked by the consolidation of bipartisanship between PSOE-A and PP.

Manuel Chaves' PSOE-A revalidated the absolute majority with 56 seats, allowing it to continue governing alone, although with a loss of support compared to the previous legislature and initiating a period of decline from which the PSOE has not recovered.

The Popular Party, led by Javier Arenas, experienced notable growth, reducing the gap with the socialists and consolidating itself as the main alternative for government.

For its part, Izquierda Unida maintained its representation with stable results. These elections also led to the disappearance of nationalist forces from the Andalusian Parliament and the continuation of Chaves as president of the Junta.

Result in seats by province in 2012

The regional elections of March 25, 2012, were held in a context especially conditioned by the economic crisis and a strong wear and tear of traditional bipartisanship in Andalusia.

The call, separated for the first time in years from the general elections, allowed the debate to focus on regional politics and the management of the regional government.

The result represented a significant shift in the Andalusian political balance. The Popular Party achieved victory with 50 seats, falling just short of an absolute majority, while the PSOE-A lost its position as the most voted party for the first time.

Despite this setback, the socialists, led by José Antonio Griñán, retained the government thanks to an agreement with Izquierda Unida, which obtained 12 seats and became part of the Executive.

This pact opened a new political era in the community, with a coalition government and a more fragmented and competitive Parliament.

Result in seats by province in 2015

The 2015 Andalusian Parliament elections were held on March 22, following an early election called by socialist president Susana Díaz, who succeeded José Antonio Griñán after he resigned due to his involvement in the ERE case.

The breakdown of the alliance between PSOE-A and Izquierda Unida marked the end of the IX legislature and opened a more fragmented and competitive electoral scenario.

The result confirmed PSOE-A as the most voted party with 47 seats, although without reaching an absolute majority, while the Popular Party of the current president of the Junta, Juanma Moreno, came in second place with 33 seats.

The big novelty of these elections was the entry of new forces into the Parliament. Podemos and Ciudadanos burst onto the scene forcefully, reflecting the transformation of the party system in Andalusia and the end of classic bipartisanship.

Izquierda Unida maintained representation, although with less weight. The resulting configuration necessitated intense negotiations for investiture and consolidated a much more plural and volatile political scenario.

Seat results by province in 2018

The 2018 elections marked a turning point in regional political history.

They were held after the breakdown of the government agreement between PSOE-A and Ciudadanos, in a climate of political instability and with the Parliament dissolved prematurely by president Susana Díaz.

The result represented a change of cycle after almost four decades of continuous socialist governments. Although PSOE-A was the most voted party with 33 seats, it lost a significant portion of its support and was far from being able to form a government.

The Popular Party, led by Juanma Moreno, became key to forming a majority, forging an agreement with Ciudadanos and counting on the external support of Vox, which entered the Andalusian Parliament for the first time with 12 seats.

This bloc allowed Moreno's investiture as president of the Junta, initiating the first non-socialist government in Andalusia since the Transition and closing a political era of long PSOE hegemony.

Seat results by province in 2022

The last regional elections, held on June 19, 2022, took place in a scenario marked by the breakup of the coalition government and the decision of President Juanma Moreno to call an early election.

The XI legislature came to an end in a context of internal tensions and difficulties in approving the budgets, which precipitated elections that would decisively reconfigure the Andalusian political map.

The result represented a historic change in the balance of power in the community. The Popular Party achieved an absolute majority for the first time with 58 seats, significantly expanding its support and consolidating its leadership in the eight provinces.

The PSOE-A, led by Juan Espadas, came in second place with 30 seats, while Vox maintained a relevant presence with 14 deputies. For its part, the space to the left of the PSOE was divided into several candidacies, which reduced its weight in Parliament, and Ciudadanos disappeared from the Chamber after losing all its seats.

This result confirmed the political shift initiated in 2018 and consolidated a new era of Popular Party dominance in Andalusia.

Looking ahead to the elections scheduled for May 17, the political landscape already pointed to a very different competition than in previous decades: a more fragmented system on the left, a strengthened right after its institutional consolidation, and an increasingly volatile electorate, in which the stability of absolute majorities had become the exception rather than the rule.